Can't wait to carve out a cozy outside space but worried that you'll blow your entire summer vacation budget on fancy water-resistant rugs and weatherproof furnishings? Don't be. A luxury-style room is easy to create and personalize — with a few budget decorating ideas under your belt. We asked the pros for some rules to live (outdoors!) by.
Work from the inside out
As you find yourself heading outside more and more to relax, entertain, dine — or all three! — make the most of the season by thinking of your yard as an extension of your home. "Consider your outdoor room as extra space that might otherwise be neglected," says Kathy Peterson, television host and author of Great Outdoor Decorating Makeovers. "Go beyond simply putting furniture on a deck or patio — make it better by coming up with a decor theme, color scheme and considering how you're going to use the space."
Author of the upcoming book Outdoor Rooms II, Anne Dickhoff notes, "An outdoor room has a conscious and cohesive design. You wouldn't just plop a sofa down in the center of your living room and call it complete. Nor should you stop decorating an outdoor room once you've found that perfect lounger or dining set and placed it on the patio. Just like a room indoors, outdoor rooms pay attention to creating a mood and an ambiance."
More outdoor decorating ideas:
- Planning the space
- Choosing furnishings
- Budget decor tricks
- Lavish touches and flaw fixers
- Outdoor trends to try
